YTC like a vacation, compared to big jail

Magistrate Kerianne Byer made the comments to handyman Jason Lee Choon, 26, who pleaded guilty to possession of 1.6 grammes of marijuana. Police arrested him on Wednesday at Tarouba Road, Marabella, with the illegal narcotic. Choon’s attorney Ainsley Lucky noted that police arrested his client the day before the holiday (Corpus Christi).

The attorney added that Choon, of Marabella, had the marijuana because he wanted to “blow off steam by getting high.” Choon’s criminal records tracings showed he spent time in police custody as a minor. Scolding Choon, Magistrate Byer said she had to stop him from, “Using the court as a revolving door,” and warned him about risking his liberty by breaking the law.

In response, attorney Lucky told the magistrate his client had done some soul-searching and would not appear in a court of law again. The magistrate fined Choon $3,500, to be paid within six weeks, failing which he will serve six months’ hard labour in jail.